Collapsible fruit-basket.



No. 632344. Patented Sept. 5, I899. o. c. FENLASON.

GOLLAPSIBLE FRUIT BASKET.

(Application filed Dec. 2, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Units rates ()RIN C. FENLASON, OF HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON.

COLLAPSIBLE FRUIT-BASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 632,344, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed December 2. 1898. Serial No. 698,086. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORIN C. FENLASON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoquiain, in the county of Chehalis and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Collapsible Fruit-Basket, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in collapsible fruit-baskets.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of fruit-baskets and to provide a simple and inexpensive one adapted to be shipped to a grower in a collapsed or folded condition to. save freight and to enable large quantities of them to be conveniently handled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible fruit-basket which may be quickly unfolded and arranged in condition for the reception of berries or other fruit without liability of breaking it and without the exercise of any care or skill on the part of persons picking the fruit.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a fruit-basket constructed in accordance with this invention and shown in a knockdown condition. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, the basket being arranged for use. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the basket fully collapsed.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a single continuous strip of veneer, scored at intervals by perforations to permit it to be folded to form the sides 2 of the basket, and its ends 3 are secured together by any suitable means, preferably by stitching the overlapped portions, as clearly illus trated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawin gs; but staples or analogous fastening devices may be employed for this purpose; also, instead of scoring the veneer by perforations any other desired form of score may be used.

The basket, which is shown square in the accompanying drawings, may be oblong, if desired, and its sides and ends, which correspond in length, are adapted to fold inward or collapse to arrange the basket in a knockdown condition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to facilitate handling large quantities of baskets and to reduce the freight on them in shipping the same to the growers.

The basket is provided with a sectional bottom 4, preferably composed of similar sections 5, secured by stitching 6 or other suit-' vide projecting portions or arms 8, the projecting portion or arm of one section being arranged to extend over and through the cutaway portion of the other section, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The sections of the bottom are adapted to fold fiat against the inner faces of their respective sides or ends, and when arranged in this position the basket is adapted to collapse or be knocked down to the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings, when it is arranged substantially as compactly as ordinary lumber and may be shipped to the growersin this condition, thereby effecting a great saving in the cost of shipping and enabling quantities of the baskets to be conveniently handled. The basket is securely retained in its extended or operative position by the sections of the bottom and may be quickly unfolded and is locked in such position by simply swinging the sections of the bottom downward to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4:. This construction of bottom also provides for sufficient ventilation of the fruit and possesses sufficient resiliency to prevent the bruising which usually results when berries and other fruit are packed upon a hard or solid bottom.

The invention has the following advantages: The berry-basket, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is

collapsible and is adapted to be shipped to the grower in a flat or knockdown condition, which enables it to be arranged as compactly as ordinary lumber, thereby greatly reducing the expense of shipping. adapted to be readily handled in considerable quantities, and it can be quickly unfolded and locked in position for use without liability of breaking it and without the exercise of any skill on the part of the pickers.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, such as varying the construction of the folding bottom for securing the basket in its operative position and for enabling it to collapse, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Vhat I claim is 1. A collapsible or knockdown fruit-basket comprising the sides hinged together at the corners of the basket, and capable of folding inwardly and collapsing, and a folding bottom hinged to the basket and having its free edge arranged to engage the inner face thereof and lock the same in position for use, said bottom being located at a point above the lower edges of the sides, substantially as described.

2. A collapsible or knockdown basket having its sides constructed of a single piece of veneer connected at its ends and provided with scores to permit the sides to collapse inwardly, and a bottom hinged to the basket, adapted to fold flat against the inside of the basket when collapsed, and capable when extended of engaging the sides to retain the parts in position for use, said bottom being located at a point between the upper and lower edges of the sides to support the contents of the box above the supporting-surface upon which the latter is placed, substantially as described.

The basket is also 3. A collapsible or knockdown basket comprising the sides hingedly connected and adapted to collapse inwardly, and a bottom composed of hinged sections mounted on 'opposite sides of the basket and adapted to overlap and support each other, said bottom being located at a point between the upper and lower edges of the sides and arranged to hold the contents of the basket out of contact with the supporting-surface upon which the basket is placed, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A collapsible or knockdown basket comprising the sides hingedly connected, and a bottom consisting of two sections hinged to opposite sides of the basket and provided at their free ends with tongues or arms, the tongue or arm of one section being adapted to overlap the other section and abut against the adjacent side of the basket, said bottom being arranged above the lower edges of the sides to support the contents out of contact with the supporting-surface upon which the basket is placed, substantially as described.

5. A collapsible or knockdown basket comprising sides hingedly connected and adapted to collapse inwardly, and a bottom composed of hinged sections provided at their free ends with cut-awayportions and projecting tongues or arms adapted to overlap and retain the basket in position for use, said bottom being arranged above the lower edges of the sides to hold the contents out of contact with the supporting-surface upon which the basket is placed, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ORIN C. FENLASON.

W'itnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, RoB'r. E. (JRUMP. 

